We have seen a Kathakali classical dance drama performance in Kochi which dates back to 1500. This is a stunning show with make-ups made from natural stones mixed with coconut oil, funny face expressions accompanied with percussion and singing.

Santa Claus on a scooter on its way to a kids street show.

Chinese fisher nets on the coast of Fort Kochi where Lara and me helped to lift one load with a catch of 2 little fishes...

Ready to go for a 5 day road trip on Bullet Royal Enfield in countryside of Kerala.

One many times we got a bit lost. I proudly present Lara which has the courage to jump on my bike and bear my driving style.

First breakdown of Korbi's bike on the way to Munnar. About 10-20 guys helped us to get the bike running again and after 2 hours a miracle: it's ready to go again.

Lara and me got invited for lunch by this lovely family from Munnar.

Korbi's road trip ended up here after just 1 day of driving... This man is the mechanic who tried his best to make it run again, but this bike was not possible to be repaired in Munnar. Korbi continued the trip by bus...

The charming family of the mechanic.

Landscape of tea plantations which looks like the world of the Teletubbies between Munnar and Periyar NP.

Pretty and me on our way to Periyar NP.

One more, it's just so beautiful!

We stopped in a small village where we met some curious kids.

Lara with husband and kids ;-)

Thats one of the most beautiful villages I have ever been. Just wonderful

One chapel perched on a big rock. Kerala is mainly Christian and this makes the roads safer as there no cows on the road.

Lovely!!

Open air cow transportation, Europe should look up how simple and animal friendly this can be organised.

Driving licence question: What's wrong in this traffic situation?
Little circulation problem in Kottayam gets resolved on its own... The opposing traffic doesn't have much space anymore, but they are less than us.

That's how I thought we might discover the beauty of the Backwaters.

Finally we got a houseboat with full service and lived for 24 hours like Maharajas over Christmas Eve

Juhu!

Santa Claus and his friends drumming on the road wishing everybody passing good luck

These are the originals on their way to deliver many many presents: Santa Aral and Santa Claus

Scene change: Kudle beach close to Gokarn where we lived in huts made of mud covered by cow shit and dried palm leaves on the roof. These are the kids of the host family with their pet

A very authentic way of life we had there. Getting water from a well and washing clothe on a stone as wash board.

How to make a cover of palm leaves workshop

What a life of misery...

Those eyes make anybody soften

Lara in a poi flow after a short workshop on the beach

"der hollaender", one of the mates from Traveler Cafe in Kudle with whom we spent 10 days hanging around together. They stay the whole winter in that place and have their little shiva altar with a trident, candles, statues and a swastika and a Om sign on the ground made of a mix of cow shit and mud...

Umesh, one of the two guys working in Traveler Cafe, behind the counter with the DVD player which played regularly Indian World music

That's the German-speaking crew 'meditating'

let's check the other beaches around and have a boat ride passing Om beach and Half-Moon beach to...

...Paradise beach where we chilled out the last day of the year at Shanti (peace) Garden where we tried slacklining, but Lara was by far the most talented of us

Puja from a Saddhu who wished me good luck and happiness for the year 2009

It works!

Last sunset of the year 2008